2013 Nevada Revised Statutes
Chapter 451 - Dead Bodies
NRS 451.597 - Facilitation of anatomical gift from decedent whose body is under jurisdiction of coroner.

1. Upon request of a procurement organization, a coroner shall release to the procurement organization the name, contact information and available medical and social history of a decedent whose body is under the jurisdiction of the coroner. If the decedent s body or part is medically suitable for transplantation, therapy, research or education, the coroner shall release postmortem examination results to the procurement organization. The procurement organization may make a subsequent disclosure of the postmortem examination results or other information received from the coroner only if relevant to transplantation or therapy.

2. The coroner may conduct a medicolegal examination by reviewing all medical records, laboratory test results, X rays, other diagnostic results and other information that any person possesses about a donor or prospective donor whose body is under the jurisdiction of the coroner which the coroner determines may be relevant to the investigation.

3. A person that has any information requested by a coroner pursuant to subsection 2 shall provide that information as expeditiously as possible to allow the coroner to conduct the medicolegal investigation within a period compatible with the preservation of parts for the purpose of transplantation, therapy, research or education.

4. If an anatomical gift has been or might be made of a part of a decedent whose body is under the jurisdiction of the coroner and a postmortem examination is not required, or the coroner determines that a postmortem examination is required but that the recovery of the part that is the subject of an anatomical gift will not interfere with the examination, the coroner and procurement organization shall cooperate in the timely removal of the part from the decedent for the purpose of transplantation, therapy, research or education.

5. If an anatomical gift of a part from the decedent under the jurisdiction of the coroner has been or might be made, but the coroner or designee initially believes that the recovery of the part could interfere with the postmortem investigation into the decedent s cause or manner of death, the coroner or designee shall consult with the procurement organization or the physician or technician designated by the procurement organization to remove the part about the proposed recovery. After consultation, the coroner or designee may allow the recovery by the procurement organization to proceed and may attend and witness all procedures before, during and after removal of the part.

6. Following the consultation under subsection 5, if the coroner or designee still intends to deny recovery, the coroner or designee, at the request of the procurement organization, shall consult additionally with the physician or technician designated by the procurement organization to remove the part before making a final determination not to allow the procurement organization to recover the part. The additional consultation must be based on the protocols developed pursuant to subsection 10 to resolve conflicts and to maximize the recovery of parts for the purpose of transplantation or therapy, except that the coroner retains the right to deny recovery based on clear need for the postmortem examination, including, without limitation, preservation of the part. After such additional consultation, the coroner or designee may:

(a) Allow recovery by the procurement organization to proceed and may attend and witness all procedures before, during and after removal of the part; or

(b) If the coroner or designee reasonably believes that the part may be involved in determining the decedent s cause or manner of death, deny recovery by the procurement organization.

7. If the coroner or designee denies recovery under subsection 6:

(a) The coroner or designee shall:

(1) Document in a record the specific reasons for not allowing recovery of the part;

(2) Include the specific reasons in the records of the coroner; and

(3) Share such records, including, without limitation, the specific reasons documented by the coroner or designee for not allowing recovery of the part, with the procurement organization in the interest of improving the protocols developed pursuant to subsection 10; and

(b) The procurement organization shall include in its records the specific reasons documented by the coroner or designee for not allowing recovery of the part.

8. If the coroner or designee allows recovery of a part under subsection 4, 5 or 6, the procurement organization, upon request, shall cause the physician or technician who removes the part to provide the coroner, in a timely manner, with a record describing the condition of the part, a biopsy, a photograph and any other information and observations that would assist in the postmortem examination.

9. If a coroner or designee elects to attend and witness a removal procedure under subsection 5 or 6, the procurement organization requesting the recovery of the part shall, upon request by the coroner or designee, reimburse the coroner or designee for the additional costs incurred in attending and witnessing the removal procedure.

10. For purposes of subsection 6, the coroner and the procurement organization shall develop mutually agreed-upon protocols to resolve conflicts between the coroner and the procurement organization regarding the recovery of parts. The protocols:

(a) Must focus on maximizing the recovery of parts for the purpose of transplantation or therapy;

(b) Must allow the coroner the right to deny recovery of a part where recovery of the part could interfere with the postmortem investigation into the decedent s cause or manner of death; and

(c) May include, without limitation, requirements and procedures concerning:

(1) Consultations and cooperation between the coroner or designee and the physician or technician designated by the procurement organization to remove the part;

(2) The taking of photographs before, during and after removal of the part;

(3) Video recording the removal procedure; and

(4) The taking of tissue samples from the part and the conducting of biopsies, testing or other examinations of the part.

(Added to NRS by 2007, 791)